Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-03-24 08-129 ORDERIcem Mo. 08 129 Date: 3-29-00 Rem/Subject ORDER, Accepting Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant — Aerial Equipment Replacement. Responsible Departmem: Fire The Fire Department was recently notified that we have received a $450,000 grant from the federal Assistance to Firefighters program for the purpose of replacing the Department's 19]] snorkel. Ager considerable review, the Department has o nduded that Its needs as well as those of Community can best be met by purchasing a combined pumper and 75 foot ladder unit. A straight ladder truck, which offers lass versatility, is estimates to cost about $500,000. A combined unit colli cost approximately $650,000. The advantages of the combined unit include: Its ability to function as both a Wmper and an aerial allowing for Flexibility and maximbing the use of collating firefighting personnel; returning the number of pumper units at Central Fire to two; the transfer of our current 105 foot ladder to Station 6, reducing its frequency of use and extending the life of what Is our most expensive piece of fire equlpment and revisions m our equipment response protocols that may result In redudng the number of units dispatched on certain calls. Please see the attached memorandum for more detalls. This approach has been discussed with and reviewed by the Francs Committee which recommends that the grant be accepted, that the Department be authorized to purchase a combined unit in an amount of up to $650,000, and that the City's share of this purchase be appropriated from the General Fund's undesignated fund balance. Department Head Manager's Comments: This is the first of a series of Council actions that Will be required. In additlon m accepting this grant, separate items are required to appropriate it, appropriate the necessary local funds, and to waive our normal bid process so that the and of the calendar year deadline for expe ing these grant funds can be met. City Manager Associated Orfomraton: Memo Budget Approval: Finance Director Legal Approval: Solititor Imroduced for % Passage _ Fired Reading Page _ of _ Referral MAR 24 711611 r�z 08 129 AsslgnedtoO ndlw Stove 4Y `S'n a CITY OF BANGOR (TYRE.) ORDER, Accepting Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant— Aerial Equipment Replacement. WHEREAS, the 6angor Fire Department submitted a grant application requesting $625,000 for the purchase of an aerial unit to replace the Department's 1977 snorkel; and WHEREAS, a grant in the amount of $450,000 has been awarded for this purpose; and WHEREAS, a local match of 10% is required by this grant program, increasing the potentially available amount to $495,000; and WHEREAS, after discussion, the Finance Committee has accepted the DeparlmenCs recommendation that a combined pumper and 75 foot aerial unit be considered to replace the snorkel; and WHEREAS, the Department estimates that such a unit may cost up to $650,000; and WHEREAS, the purchase of such a unit may require up to $200,000 in local funds; and WHEREAS, theses additional funds may be appropriated by the City Council from the General Fund's undesignated fund balance; and WHEREAS, as a one-time capital expenditure, this purpose meets the guidelines far the use of undesignated fund balance as set forth in the City's financial policies; and WHEREAS, it is the intention of the City Council to appropriate the necessary funds to complete this purchase; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CRY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT A grant from the federal Assistance to Fire Fighters program in the amount of $450,000 to be used for the purchase of a combined pumper and aerial unit to replace the Departments current snorkel is hereby accepted. PR CITYCODMCIL March 26, 2008 E• 08-129 Motion Mad= and gecoaded j for Passage ORDER Pa ed (MEd_ Accepting Federal Aesisl�an CITY CLERK Co Firefighters Grant - Aeriel Equipment aad Replacement q Mrlgued b Countibr ���•`t 08 129 March 12, 2008 TO: Members of the Finance Committee FROM: Jeffrey Cammack, Fire Chief RE: Grant award for Snorkel Replacement For the first time in FY07, Fire Departments were allowed to submit grant requests in several categories to the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. We submitted three requests: one for the replacement of our sell contained breathing apparatus, the second for the replacement of one of our aerial pieces, and a third for educational material for Fre Prevention activities. As you will recall, the first grant was awarded and approved by Council for the replacement of 30 SCBM (self contained breathing apparatus). We were recently notified that our request to fund replacement of our Snorkel has been awarded. This piece of equipment is housed at Station 5 on the Hogan Road. It was purchased when Central Fire Station was built in 19]] and, as outlined in the Fire Equipment Acquisition and Replacement Schedule, a due to be replaced in FY12 for $650,000 of which $500,000.00 is to be provided through a Bond Issue. This unit has limited utility to the Deparbnent. R is primarily used only at major fires where an aerial water platform is required. Its major shortcoming is the lack of a ladder. Our original grant request to replace the Snorkel was for $625,000. We have been notified that we have been awarded $450,000 towards the purchase of a replacement. This grant requires at least a 10% local match, or a minimum of $50,000, totaling to $500,000 in available replacement funding if the grant is accepted. POTEfdFIAL EQUIPMEHF TO BE PURCHASED While an aerial piece is required, there are several alternatives available. The first codon, which is estimated to cost In the $500,000 range, is a straight aerial piece with a 75 foot ladder. This unit would be placed at Station S. A second option, which would cost approximately $650,000, is a combined ladder and pumper unit, normally referred W as a "Quint". This unit would be placed at Central Fire, and our existing 105 foot ladder to& would be moved to Station Six. The Command staff at the Department has spent a considerable time discussing these options and has concluded that the purchase of a quint, although initially more expensive, would be in tire best interest of the City and the Department for the following reasons: • Staffing at Central is adequate to allow the Depamaent W assign sufficient personnel to this new unit to allow it W function either as an aerial or a pumper unit. We are aware of other Deparbnents that have purchased Quinbe that do not staff them adequately, thus limiting their usefulness. That wood not be the casein Bangor • Stationing the quint at Central Fre would provide us with two front line pumper units at that station, restoring a capability that has been lost over time due to budgetary constraints A 129 • Such a dual use unit at Central will allow us to revise our equipment response plans, potentially reducing the number of units required to be dispatched to certain calls • Transfer of our 105 foot aerial to Station 6 will reduce the number of responses that this unit runs, potentially extending its life. This unit was purchased in 1990, and we hope that its useful life will extend to thirty years. The current replacement cost for such a unit Is In the range of $1 million. We have concluded, therefore, that the purchase of a quint will benefit the City by improving the fire suppression capabilities housed at Central Fire, allow for mare efficient overall equipment response patterns potentially reducing operating expenses and liability exposures, and help extend the remaining life of the DepartmenCs most expensive unit. We belleve that the initial $150,000 additional expenditure will be recovered over time through reduced operating ossts and extended equipment life. ai11:yaLVJN The grant requires that we expend the funding prior to the end of this calendar year. The normal came period between award of bid and delivery of a custom bulk aerial unit ranges from 18 to 24 months. In order to meet the end of the year expenditure deadline, we are also requesting that the normal bid process be waived and that the Department be authorized to purchase an already built unit or a unit that is in the process of being bulk and that can be del"wered this calendar year. The Department has been successful In the past in purchasing pre -built units, both in terms of the performance of these units and their initial costs. FUNDING We are in discussions with the Finance Director regarding potential sources of the local match ($50,000) W the grant and the additional funds ($150,00D) that will be required should the Council approve our recommend option of purchasing a combined aerial/pumperunit We look forward to discussing this with the Finance Commitee on Monday and will attempt ten address any questions you may have at that time.